Saying "Yes" to the Storm
While it sounds counterintuitive, you gotta say “yes” to the storm. Dive right in it. Feel it. Live in it and with it. Process it.
Our good conscience, our sense of right and wrong, our fight, flight, freeze response says, “No! Are you f*cking kidding? Just no!” But resist the inclination, and simply say “yes.” Yes to the pain, yes to the feeling of getting pulled under, yes to the gritting of our teeth and the gnawing in our gut. It also means saying “yes” to healing, to a clearer mind, to a lighter sense of being.
A few weeks ago, we had a violent windstorm sweep through our little town. So ruthless that it brought down the county’s entire electrical grid. Our good conscience said, “Stay safe. Stay in. Hide away from it. Protect ourselves.” But, instead, my husband and I said yes. And we went right into the storm.
We hopped in the car and drove down the road along the beach. The 50-mph wind gusts pushed against our vehicle. Rain slapped against the windows. The angry, dark gray waves roared with a ferociousness I hadn’t witnessed in a very long time. They spewed swirls of seafoam into the air. They cut new trails in the sand, heaped sand onto the modest-sized dunes and uprooted the seagrass. They swept away the old debris and lifted ginormous logs onto the shore. The beach was never going to be the same.
I’m not going to lie. It was scary. It made my heart race. Several times I asked my husband to turn the car around so we could go home and be in our safe space. But instead, we decided to go deeper. We drove north where the wind whipped through the forest, where branches few off the majestic Douglas firs that lined the highway—and when a tree fell just missing our car, it was an unquestionable signal that it was time to retreat to our safe space.
I must say, it was invigorating, awe-inspiring and wondrous. I witnessed things I would never see if I had stayed safe in the comfort of my home. And it gave way to novel perspectives.
We got home, and, although the storm has passed through and it was calm, the power was still out. What unfolded before us was not a typical evening at the Mayerle residence. A different pathway was forged by the storm. A pathway to togetherness. We sat on the couch, grateful for the warmth of the fireplace and the light of our camping lanterns, and we just talked. For hours. No phones, internet, or TV news telling us that the world is falling to pieces. Just the two of us, trying to make sense of the storm. The conversation turned to reminiscing about the past, examining the present and dreaming about the future. The evening brought forth a transformed appreciation for each other and our life, leaving us eager and excited to push forward into the unchartered territories of the possibilities ahead of us.
While this anecdote is about an external storm, it is analogous to the storms in our minds.
Many of us live with stringent safety measures to protect us from any kind of discomfort. Hiding from things that scare us. Hiding from the hurt. Hiding from the storm within us. We push against it. Try to swat it away. Only to have another storm move in. Storm after storm until we are brought to our knees begging for answers, “Why me? Why this? Why now?”
Saying “yes” to the storm is the answer. It is an opportunity that is handed to us. Feeling it, digesting it, assimilating it into our bodies and letting it pass through allows us to carve new pathways in our brains and feel a shift inside us, giving way to witnessing life in a fresh way, carrying ourselves with an elevated sense of ease, and heading into the unknown with conviction and trust.
Don’t let this powerful opportunity pass you by. Say “yes.”
xx, Jen
Hey Jen,
Q: Spring vacation is just around the corner and I’m already thinking about my packing list. In my neck of the woods, we’re seeing record-low temperatures. How do I pack for getting on a plane in cold weather and landing in a warm location?
A: That’s one of life’s biggest conundrums—packing for travel that goes from one weather extreme to the other (LOL). First-world problems, right? We are so fortunate to be able to visit far-away locations that give us some reprieve from our long, cold winters. No doubt you are grateful. I’m grateful that I get to do the same. On a recent trip to Costa Rica, I dressed for my trip to the airport in Portland, OR, where it was rainy and cold, and manage to get off the plane in 80-plus, humid weather in comfort. Here’s what I did: I layered. I wore some light-weight jeans, tennis shoes, a dress shirt and a hoodie. I through my flip flops in my backpack so I could slip them on when I got to my destination. The hoodie was heavy enough to keep me warm in Portland and on the plane. When I got to Costa Rica, I tied it around my waist. And did the reverse when I headed back to Portland.
Here are some of my favorite traveling clothes:
Gap Hoodies are, and always have been, hands down, the best. They are really well-made and heavy enough to keep you warm when you are quickly running from your Uber to the airport terminal. I like to wear bright-colored hoodies, and this orange that I have is one of my favorites. I wear it to death:
And anyone who knows me well knows that I live in H&M oxford shirts. I own several colors—they are super well made, I love the way they drape, and they are so inexpensive—you can’t beat $24.99! When you get to your warm destination, you can roll up the sleeves and tie the front—instant vacation wear.
Paige is my go-to jean brand…and I NEVER buy them at full price. Always hit the Nordstrom Rack to get them at least half-price. And who cares if they are the latest and greatest style or cut—as long as you feel comfortable. Get a cropped pair like the Hoxton style.
For airplane shoes, I like New Balance because they always provide some flair…and they are always super comfortable. The Fresh Foam Roav is so dang cute and the price is right at $84.99.
When you hop off the plane and into the sun, slip on your Havaianas. I’m pretty basic and like the green Rotate flip-flops.
…of the Week
Song…
“Don’t Forget to Breathe” by Stormzy (featuring Yebba). See what I did there?
Taste…
Coconut-Poached Fish With Bok Choy from New York Times Cooking. First of all, NYT Cooking is my go-to site for recipes. If you don’t have a subscription, get one. It’s $1.25/week; $40/year…and worth every dime. I cook out of it at least 3x/week and rarely does a recipe fail me (or do I fail a recipe, which I’ve been known to do). This particular recipe was perfection. So easy, so flavorful. And healthy too. I served it over jasmine rice so the coconut milk broth had something to grab onto. Perfect for a stormy night ;-). This one got a “Will make again” in the comments section from me.
Funny…
The article, No Shame—People Are Revealing Things They Learned Embarrassingly Late In Life. I thought I was the only one who sometimes didn’t get the memo. But I guess, based on this article, there are many others. True story: my husband was about 30-something when he realized that whipped cream was made from…well…cream. He always thought it came from a can until one evening I asked him to whip some cream for our dessert. Enjoy this read. You will laugh out loud and you may just learn something new. I did.
Home…
I could def live in: The Vika Living 'Vika One' Tiny Home Installs Anywhere. As we continue to downsize our life, it’s a constant reminder that we really don’t need much.
Term…